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Saturday, 23 March 2013

Goodwin's Court

A street straight out of Harry Potter, however unlike Diagon Alley you don't need magical powers to visit. Goodwin's Court runs of St Martin's Lane, not far from Leicester Square Tube. The street dates back to 1690 and appears very little has changed.
The quaint shop fronts with small window panes that you can peer through and the low doors with brass knockers in the centre. One door had a small but chunky wooden above it that read "Nell Gwynne House". Another plaque on the wall tells us that the street used to be named "Fishers Alley", maybe this was the route the fishermen took their wares from the Thames to the market at Covent Garden?
Even more charm oozes from this wee lane at night when the gas lamps are burning. They must surely be the last ones still working in London.

I wrote a piece for my own blog featuring Goodwin's Court and its place in the Jules Dassin film noir 'Night and The City'. I have re-posted it for anyone interested. It was a location Dassin used and is clearly visible much as it is now. Would recommend a viewing of the movie, if you are interested in seeing it 'starring' in a piece of cinematic history.